Using Advanced Selection Tools in Figma for Mobile App Design

Key Concepts

• Basic Selection
• Lasso Tool
• Frame Selection
• Group Selection
• Component Selection
• Boolean Operations
• Masking
• Layer Ordering
• Keyboard Shortcuts
• Smart Selection
• Selection History
• Selection Filters
• Best Practices

1. Basic Selection

Basic selection in Figma involves using the mouse or trackpad to click on individual elements or groups of elements. This is the most common and straightforward method of selecting objects.

Example: Clicking on a button to select it for resizing or repositioning.

2. Lasso Tool

The Lasso Tool allows you to draw a freeform selection around elements. This is particularly useful for selecting irregularly shaped objects or groups of objects that are not easily selected with a simple click.

Example: Using the Lasso Tool to select multiple icons that are scattered across the canvas.

3. Frame Selection

Frame selection involves selecting an entire frame or page. This is useful when you want to apply changes to all elements within a specific frame or page.

Example: Selecting a frame that contains multiple buttons and text fields to apply a background color to all elements within the frame.

4. Group Selection

Group selection allows you to select all elements within a group. Groups are useful for organizing and managing related elements. Selecting a group allows you to move, resize, or modify all elements within the group simultaneously.

Example: Selecting a group of icons to reposition them as a single unit.

5. Component Selection

Component selection involves selecting instances of a component. Components are reusable elements that maintain a connection to their master component. Selecting a component allows you to modify all instances of that component at once.

Example: Selecting a button component to change its color across all instances in the design.

6. Boolean Operations

Boolean operations allow you to combine, subtract, or intersect shapes to create complex forms. These operations are useful for creating custom shapes and icons.

Example: Using the Union operation to combine two shapes into one, or the Subtract operation to cut a hole in a shape.

7. Masking

Masking allows you to hide parts of an element or group of elements by using another shape as a mask. This is useful for creating complex visual effects or clipping elements to specific shapes.

Example: Masking an image with a circular shape to create a circular thumbnail.

8. Layer Ordering

Layer ordering involves managing the stacking order of elements. You can bring elements to the front, send them to the back, or move them forward or backward in the stacking order.

Example: Bringing a button to the front to ensure it is clickable above other elements.

9. Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts allow you to perform selection and other actions more efficiently. Figma offers a variety of keyboard shortcuts for selecting elements, groups, and components.

Example: Using the "V" key to activate the selection tool, or "Cmd + Click" (Mac) / "Ctrl + Click" (Windows) to select multiple elements.

10. Smart Selection

Smart Selection uses Figma's AI to help you select elements more accurately. It can detect and select elements that are partially covered or difficult to click on.

Example: Using Smart Selection to select a button that is partially hidden behind another element.

11. Selection History

Selection history allows you to undo and redo selections. This is useful when you accidentally deselect an element or want to revert to a previous selection state.

Example: Undoing a selection to go back to a previous state where multiple elements were selected.

12. Selection Filters

Selection filters allow you to filter and select elements based on specific criteria, such as type, layer, or component. This is useful for quickly selecting elements that meet certain conditions.

Example: Filtering to select all text layers within a frame to apply a consistent font style.

13. Best Practices

Best practices for using advanced selection tools include organizing your layers and groups, using components for consistency, and leveraging keyboard shortcuts for efficiency. These practices ensure that your workflow is smooth and your designs are well-organized.

Example: Organizing your layers into groups and using components to maintain consistency across your design.

Examples and Analogies

Basic Selection: Think of basic selection as picking up a single toy from a pile. You simply click on the toy (element) you want to select.

Lasso Tool: Consider the Lasso Tool like drawing a circle around a group of toys. You can draw a freeform shape to select multiple toys (elements) at once.

Frame Selection: Picture frame selection as selecting an entire toy box. When you pick up the box, all the toys inside (elements) come with it.

Group Selection: Imagine group selection as picking up a set of toys that are already grouped together. The group (elements) moves as a single unit.

Component Selection: Think of component selection as selecting a set of identical toys. Changing one toy (component) changes all the others in the set.

Boolean Operations: Consider Boolean operations like combining or cutting toys to create new shapes. You can add, subtract, or intersect toys (shapes) to create complex forms.

Masking: Picture masking as placing a stencil over a toy. The stencil (mask) hides parts of the toy (element) that are outside the stencil's shape.

Layer Ordering: Imagine layer ordering as stacking toys on top of each other. You can move a toy to the top or bottom of the stack to change its visibility.

Keyboard Shortcuts: Think of keyboard shortcuts as using a remote control to quickly select toys. The remote (keyboard) allows you to perform actions faster.

Smart Selection: Consider Smart Selection as a helper who knows where all the toys are, even if they're partially hidden. The helper (AI) helps you select the right toy.

Selection History: Picture selection history as a time machine for toys. You can go back in time to a previous selection state if you make a mistake.

Selection Filters: Imagine selection filters as sorting toys by type. You can filter and select only the toys (elements) that match a specific type.

Best Practices: Think of best practices as the rules of organizing a toy collection. Following these rules ensures your toys are easy to find and play with.